CapriAnniversary

We will be able to arrive before noon in both Kathmandu and Delhi on our arrival days in the respective cities. We've not been to either city before. Our trip will be in late December of this year. Most certainly, we will not be trekking in Nepal so that isn't a consideration for how we'd use our time there. Our understanding is that the end of December is the beginning of winter in Nepal but that Kathmandu is generally sunny (though with short days) in December. I didn't learn until today that it is less than 5,000 feet in elevation! I thought it was on top of the world, along with Everest.

In your opinion, what would be a better allocation of time between the two cities and why? What would be your number one recommendation for what to do in each city?

Kathie

I would choose one city for a mere 6 days. We spent eight days last time in Kathmandu
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...mandu-2008.cfm
photos at www.marlandc.com/Nepal/index.html

If you opt for Delhi, you could do Delhi/Agra.

thursdaysd

What does the rest of your trip look like? Where else are you going in India and Nepal?

I preferred Kathmandu to Delhi - much more interesting. Plus you can take the Everest flight, and visit other places in the valley.

CapriAnniversary

We'll not be going anywhere else in India and Nepal. We'll actually have first spent 6 to 8 nights in Thailand prior to going to Kathmandu and Delhi. I wanted to go to Hong Kong after Thailand for 5 or 6 nights but my wife had other notions (we've been there before), so, Kathmandu and Delhi became the compromise. It's the old story of not having enough time to visit everywhere we would like for as long as we'd like. Getting that close to India and Nepal from Thailand, it's a way to at least say we've been there. I'd like to have a 30 day vacation to do something but that's not possible for us. 2 weeks max.

CapriAnniversary

Kathie, I enjoyed your trip report! Well done!

rhkkmk

as you know 2 days is inadequate for both...BUT

i would go to delhi first and your 1st day will be taken up getting to your hotel, so not to [lan much that day..

when flying to KTH i would go very early in the AM and have a driver waiting for me to take me to Bhaktapur, where i could spend several hours..

i would use the rest of the day to visit areas near to my hotel... i would suggest the hyatt..

the next day i would visit the other world heritage sights...

quite honestly i would skip delhi totally and go only to KTH or visa-versa..

rhkkmk

i misread...i thought it was 2 and 2...

3 and 3 would be best imho

CapriAnniversary

rhkkmk, thank you. When you advise to have a driver waiting, I assume you mean to have a pre-arranged driver, not necessarily a taxi per se but possibly. I always feel somewhat like the mouse let loose in a cage full of cats when arriving as a passenger at a third world international airport--and the cats are taxi drivers. If you have any suggestions on who to make arrangments with for a private hire, that would be very much appreciated. Given the time of the month we would be there, and not being fully aware of the weather and driving conditions in late December as one might expect, is a drive to Bhaktapur at an elevation where we're at risk for inclement weather, if you've the familiarity with the general weather in the region at that time of year? Of course, any day can be great, bad, or so-so for weather anywhere but there are probabiities of what one may expect from one year to the next.

thursdaysd

I'm with you - with only 6 days I'd stay in SEA, although I'd go to Laos or Cambodia or Vietnam instead of HK. And with only 6 days I'd pick India or Nepal, not both.

However, if you're really going to do Delhi and KTM in 6 days, just don't think you've "seen" India, any more than you would have "seen" the US by spending three days in Washington. At least in Washington the sights are American, in Delhi they're mostly the leavings of alien empires, Mughal or British. Of course, the Taj, which I think is more worth seeing than about anywhere in Delhi, is also Mughal....

Kathie

The Kathmandu Valley is very moderate in climate. It will be warm and sunny during the day and it might frost at night. You don't have to worry about snow driving to Bhaktapur. Even if you decide to go to a much higher elevation, like Changu Narayan, you won't have snow on the ground. If you want a car and driver to meet you at the airport, have the Hyatt arrange it.

Frankly, you won't have time to even explore the major world heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley with a mere three days. I'd really recommend you re-think your plans and choose one or the other. Going to both means you will spend a lot of time getting from place to place and will have less time to enjoy.

Elainee

We also stayed at the Hyatt and we highly recommend it. Not far from the airport, removed from the chaos of Kath. And, most important, short walk from Bodhnath.
Have the Hyatt or your hotel arrange a car and driver. You don't want to get there tired from long flight and then try to make your own arrangements to get to your hotel. Not all drivers speak English.

CapriAnniversary

Any thoughts as to the merits of staying at the Crowne Plaza in Kathmandu, as opposed to the Hyatt?

Our quandary on division of time is based on the reality that we'll never get back to that region of the world again. We can either do some of each or all of only one of the two locales and then we'll never be back. So, maybe the question is: is it better to never have done one of the two locales by devoting all the time to one, or, to have seen them both--albeit for only a glimpse, so to speak?

rhkkmk

its a toss up...

i personally think you could see enough of both to wet your whistle so to speak... BUT
going only to delhi would allow a side-trip to agra for an overnight or two..

i would have my hotel arrange for the driver to meet me--an independent driver... we arranged ours through the agency desk in the hyatt lobby---maybe the hotel would put you in touch with them via e mails..

read my trip report by clicking on my name.. i think a driver is listed there..

okoshi2002

I am not clear whether you are saying you have the option to go to either Kathmandu or Delhi. If that is the question and if you have just two days, I would go to Kathmandu , stay centrally in Thamel and spend both days visiting the heritage sites . Many of the shops in Thamel remain open at night so you could walk them after dark very safely. We stayed at Hotel Shakti and found it very adequate. I suspect you will find even Hyatt in Kathmandu quite modest so would not spend too much on lodging.

CapriAnniversary

Well, after reading the replies and some trip reports, we've adjusted our plans by adding one more day to our total trip and taking one day away from our stay in Thailand. We're going to spend 4 nights in Kathmandu and 3 nights in Delhi. We'll never be back to these areas again. One and done. We'd like to do them both longer, but, it is what it is. And, after reading rhkkmk's travel report with something like 15 or 16 trips to Thailand that he's taken in the past, I'm thinking he should move there, then, on the occasional visit to the USA, write a trip report of being back home instead! I must admit I'm envious of anyone who can travel that much and immerse one's self. Good for him and others who are so fortunate!

rhkkmk

capri--we are always looking for new travel partners---when are you available...

our conclusion on moving to thailand: it would spoil the mgic we feel every time.. having to deal with the every day annouances of shopping, dry cleaner, house maintenance, heat and humidity, etc would undoubtably change our fairy tale views of thailand--bangkok especially..
No lux hotels, no executive clubs, no fauning GM's, no 5* meals at 1* prices, etc...

Kathie

I wish you well on your trip. The problem with such short stays in each of those cities is that I fear you will only have enough time to be annoyed with the traffic, pollution, poverty. Both are amazing cities, but you have to look beneath the surface. These are cities that don't have an attractive, "shiny" surface. You have to dig deeper to discover their charms.

Elainee

The Hyatt is Kath is not modest. It is very nice. Good size rooms, all the stuff you would expect in an international hotel. Lovely large pool. We like the main restaurant. We did not stay anywhere else so we cannot compare. But good location, good place, good price.